A former Ziegfield-girl, she was discovered by Fox on the New York stage.
Supporting actress, who grew up in Dallas, Texas, and was educated at Columbia University. First big splash on Broadway in the 1925 'Ziegfeld Follies', also good in 'Rio Rita' (1927-28,with Wheeler and Woolsey) as Katie Bean. Screen debut in 'Fox Movietone Follies' (1930), but had her best roles as tough, wisecracking blonde in Warner Brothers gangster movies, opposite stars like James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Paul Muni and Edward G. Robinson. Her career declined after the mid-1930s. Close friend of cowboy actor Buck Jones.